This week saw the passing of Erick Purkhiser, aka Lux Interior, frontman and founding member of The Cramps. Lux started the Cramps in 1973 with his future wife, Poison Ivy, and the band was a fixture of the then emerging CBGB punk scene, despite playing more of a bluesy surf-rockabilly sound that differed from many of their contemporaries at the club. The band had a long and well-respected career, with quite a hardcore following. Lux and his wife had been touring with the band as recently as Fall 2006. That final tour had them play the MotherF**ker party at Avalon that Labor Day, which was an appropriately outrageous venue for what turned out to be their final New York show. Lux had a pre-existing heart condition, which ultimately led to his death. He was 62. more ›

This past Monday, Stereogum celebrated the release of their annual reader-pickedGummy Awards with a little get together at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. In what felt more like an open invitation holiday party than any sort of awards show, the blog got Bell, Violens and Deerhunter to perform to a packed room. While Deerhunter haven't been strangers to the city this year, playing over a half dozen times in 2008, this was perhaps their best effort yet—sounding a bit restrained, but utterly consistent and on-point throughout. They had a tough act to follow in Violens, who played an excellent and moving opening set, perhaps positioning themselves for a breakout year in 2009. For videos from all the acts that night, check here. more ›